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    Home » Main Dishes » Pork

    Instant Pot BBQ Pork Sandwiches (77 cents/serving!)

    Published: Feb 24, 2021 · Modified: Dec 20, 2021 by Jessica Fisher

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    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. For more details, please see our disclosure policy.
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    Dinner comes together quickly and easily with this Instant Pot BBQ Pork Sandwich filling. With some pork roast and a variety of spices, the recipe tastes delicious and is super affordable.

    BBQ pork sandwich on plate this …
    Jump to:
    • What’s a pork sandwich?
    • Serving suggestions
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Freezing instructions
    • Recipe costs
    • Kitchen Equipment
    • Instant Pot BBQ Pork Sandwich Recipe

    Do you have a new Instant Pot still sitting in its box, purchased with the assumption that it would change your life, but you find that you’re still waiting?

    I get you. It took me awhile to get myself fully aboard the pressure cooker train. Now that I’m here, I’m enjoying the hands-free nature of the beast, cooking up everything from Hard Cooked Eggs and Black Beans to Cheesy Sausage Pasta and great rice in the instant pot.

    The electric pressure cooker is fantastic at cooking tender sandwich fillings. Case in point: Instant Pot BBQ Pork Sandwiches

    sandwich on plate near instant pot

    What’s a pork sandwich?

    There are a number of classic pork sandwiches, including the Cubano, the BLT, the Club Sandwich, and the Ham and Swiss. A BBQ Pork sandwich ranks with the best of them with its tender seasoned pork, topped with pickles and BBQ sauce, tucked into a bun or between two slices of sandwich bread.

    While slow cooker pulled pork is certainly delicious, it does require a long wait time. This recipe for BBQ Pork makes great use of the electric pressure cooker.

    Simply season the meat and and let the instant pot do the work. In just a little while, shred the meat and assemble your sandwiches. Delish!

    Serving suggestions

    Similar to other sandwiches, these BBQ Pork Sandwiches go great with side salads (try Creamy Coleslaw or Deli Potato Salad), veggie dippers, chips, or even Cheesy Stuffed Potatoes.

    Leftovers are great the next day as sandwiches, but the meat is also delicious in tacos, burritos, soup, and chili.

    table set with components for pork sandwiches

    Ingredients

    You don’t need anything too fancy for this recipe, just some spices and pork shoulder (roast or strips).

    You can use a commercial spice mix, like Montreal Seasoning or your favorite BBQ rub, but our custom BBQ spice blend included here comes together quickly with regular items from the spice cupboard, including:

    • salt
    • sugar
    • chile powder – the ground chile, not the mix that has added salt, etc.
    • smoked paprika – regular is fine, but smoked will give you more of that BBQ vibe
    • garlic powder
    • onion powder
    • ground cayenne pepper
    • red pepper flakes

    Since the pressure cooker requires some liquid, you’ll also need:

    • water
    • tomato sauce
    • apple cider vinegar – you can use another type of vinegar if you prefer, though ACV adds a natural sweetness to the recipe
    • adding BBQ spice to pork cubes
    • spiced cubes and other ingredients
    • browning pork in pot
    • adding liquid to the pot
    • cooked pork in the pot
    • shredding the pork with tongs

    Instructions

    This recipe really couldn’t be easier!

    • Combine the spices in a small bowl and toss with the cubed pork.
    • Heat the oil in the instant pot and add the pork, tossing to coat and to brown on all sides.
    • Combine the water, tomato sauce, and vinegar, and add this to the pot.
    • Cover the pot, close the pressure valve, and cook on high for 45 minutes. Allow for a 10 minute natural release.
    • The meat will be fall apart tender, shredding easily with a few pinches of the tongs.
    • Serve immediately on buns or sandwich bread, topped with pickles and BBQ sauce.

    Freezing instructions

    This meat mixture freezes beautifully. Cool the meat completely, package in meal size portions and chill thoroughly before storing in the freezer for up to 2 months.

    To serve: reheat in the microwave or in a pan on the stovetop.

    BBQ pork sandwich on plate with veggies

    Recipe costs

    Knowing how much it costs you to prepare a recipe can help you decide if it’s the type of recipe to make regularly or one you might want to save for special occasions. Let’s crunch some numbers and see how this recipe pencils out.

    • boneless pork shoulder roast – $3.58 ($1.79/lb)
    • spices – $0.25
    • hamburger buns – $1.44
    • BBQ sauce – $0.50
    • dill pickle slices – $0.25

    A batch of eight sandwiches costs $6.02 or about 77 cents/serving! Compared to what you’d buy at a restaurant, homemade is an incredible deal. And quick and easy, to boot!

    BBQ pork in glass dish

    How to save even more:

    This recipe serving 8 people is already super affordable. Here are some strategies from the Good Cheap Eats System to help you save even more:

    • Check the sales! Pork roast goes on sale regularly for less than a couple dollars which makes this a great budget meal.
    • Shop the store with the best prices. A huge jar of dill pickles is available at Costco or ALDI for incredibly low prices. Same with BBQ sauce and spices.
    • Cook from scratch. If you make your own buns or get them on sale, this can be quite a good cheap eat.
    • Freeze extra for later. Eight servings a bit too much for your table? Freeze half for another night. You’ll be able to avoid take-out on a busy day and still enjoy an affordable meal.

    Kitchen Equipment

    This recipe really couldn’t be easier than it is, but having the right kitchen tools can really make your time in the kitchen more enjoyable. Over time, I’ve honed my collection so that they are perfect for my needs.

    • pressure cooker
    • cooking tongs
    • freezer containers
    open BBQ Pork sandwich
    If you prepare this recipe, be sure to share a picture on social media and hashtag it #GOODCHEAPEATS. I can't wait to see what you cook up!
    instant pot BBQ pork sandwich
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    5 from 3 votes

    Instant Pot BBQ Pork Sandwich Recipe

    Cook up some tender, flavorful pork to fill your favorite BBQ Pork Sandwiches. The process is so easy, yet makes dinner amazing!
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time45 mins
    Total Time6 hrs 5 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 307kcal
    Author: Jessica Fisher
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    Equipment

    • Electric pressure cooker

    Ingredients

    For the BBQ rub:

    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon sugar
    • ½ teaspoon chile powder or ground chile
    • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
    • ½ teaspoon onion powder
    • ⅛ teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
    • ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes

    For the filling:

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 lb pork shoulder roast or strips, cubed
    • ½ cup water
    • ¼ cup tomato sauce
    • ¼ cup apple cider vinegar

    For the sandwiches:

    • 8 hamburger buns
    • 1 cup BBQ sauce or more to taste
    • 16 dill hamburger sliced pickles
    US Customary – Metric

    Instructions

    • In a bowl combine the spices for the BBQ rub. Toss this with the pork cubes, turning to coat.
    • Heat the oil on saute until shimmering. Add the seasoned pork cubes. Brown quickly, until all sides have a nice crust, turning as needed.
    • In a small cup combine the water, tomato sauce, and vinegar. Add this to the pot.
    • Secure the cover and lock the pressure valve. Set the machine for 45 minutes on manual.
    • One the timer rings, wait ten minutes before releasing the pressure. The meat should be fall-apart tender. Shred the meat and moisten with some juices if needed. Adjust the seasonings to your taste.
    • To serve: Assemble the sandwiches by placing a generous amount of shredded pork on hamburger buns. Top with BBQ sauce and dill pickles. Serve immediately.
    • Promptly refrigerate leftovers and use within 4 days. For longer storage, cool the meat completely, package for freezing, and store in the freezer, for up to 2 months.

    Notes

    Nutritional values are approximate and based on 1 sandwich.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 307kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 46mg | Sodium: 947mg | Potassium: 427mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 264IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 105mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag Me Today!Mention @goodcheapeatsblog or tag #goodcheapeats!

    This post was originally published on September 7, 2009. It has been updated for content and clarity.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Lisa Mettam

      July 15, 2013 at 10:46 am

      If you don’t have the free bottle of BBQ sauce, you can try Eastern NC BBQ sauce… not much more than vinegar, cayenne, brown sugar, salt and pepper… tabasco if you want a little more zing. Most people have all those things in their pantry already, so it’ll cost almost nothing.

      Reply
    2. Jenny

      June 03, 2013 at 1:33 pm

      Yum! Toss a little slaw on top and we are all set

      Reply
      • Jessica

        June 03, 2013 at 7:43 pm

        You betcha. This one is good: https://goodcheapeats.com/2009/07/broccoli-slaw-with-pecans-and/ and so is this one: http://lifeasmom.com/2012/03/sunshine-cole-slaw-urs-cabbage.html Yum, now I’m hungry.

        Reply
    3. Linda

      July 07, 2012 at 10:14 am

      This sounds great! Does it do well to freeze after you shred it up?

      Reply
      • Jessica

        July 07, 2012 at 10:17 am

        Yes, it does.

        Reply

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